2

Eleanor yawned stretched and sat up in bed. Oh yes! Sweet sweet sleep. She looked to her bedside alarm clock, turned to yawn again and froze mid yawn. She slowly turned back to her clock. 10:54am. Oh no! No no no no no. How? She set the time to-

"You're finally awake" Anna, her 16 year old sister slid open her door poked her head in

"Anna, I.... Wait! Did you sneak into my room this morning?"

Anna blinked in feigned innocence "Well.... Come down for breakfast!" and ran off

"Ugh! Anna!" Eleanor ran for the bathroom. She was gonna be late! Her flight was by 12:00pm. She had been staying at her family's house for three days already because her place was further from the airport. Sweet fudge, she couldn't miss her flight! She quickly brushed her teeth and ran in for a bath. While she bathed, she couldn't help but think about the dream she'd had earlier. The same dream, over and over again, for three days straight. She'd finalized her trip to Oregon three days ago and boom, freaky dreams. What was weird was that, whenever the dreams came, she was all into them. Like she couldn't remember that she had dreamt the exact same dream before. It all felt new. The horror... The peace... The sweat. It was honestly a surprise that she was able to go back to sleep afterwards. She exhaled and stepped out of the bathroom. It was probably her excited nerves. Yeah. That's what it was. She slipped into a pair of ash coloured jeans, a thick black singlet, threw her black leather jacket over it, slapped on her brown ugg boots and tried to force her unruly, ebony black curls into a rubber band which was almost impossible as some curls still slipped out. She gave up and went on to fold her minions night gown into her already packed box, and ran out of the room.

"There she is" Her father, Simon Starr said as she bent for him to kiss her cheek

"Good morning dad. Anna!" She slapped the back of her head "what have I told you about tampering with my alarm clock?!"

"Ouch! Mom! She hit me" Anna pouted

Laura Starr gave Anna a chiding look and turned to Eleanor with her arms wide open. Eleanor moved to embrace her mom

"Good morning, Mom"

"Buon Giorno, tesoro! Oh Ella, Your hair. Why don't I do something about it for you?"

Ella wiggled out of her mom's hold

"Grazie mamma, but i can't"

"Why? You look like a horse ran over your head"

Anna snickered and Eleanor shot her a scowl

"Let me help you" Laura continued

"Mom. Really, I can't. Thank you but I have to go now."

"Now?! Ma non hai Ancora fatto colazione!" (But you haven't had breakfast yet"

"I'm sorry Mom. Maybe I would have, if someone had not tampered with my alarm clock" Ella said, slowly sliding her eyes to Anna who just blew her a kiss

Laura pouted making Eleanor feel bad. Her mom was so cute! Honestly! With her beautiful thick black hair, brownish skin and petite frame, you'd admire her from behind but once you came around and saw her face, you literally sunk in. So beautiful, with the brightest smile. Her Italian lineage was obvious.

"You are one lucky bean, dad" Ella commented. Laura rolled her eyes and Simon smirked. Ella and Anna had the same hair color, just Ella's hair was a lot more frizzier and whilst people called her all kinds of sexy because of it, she thought herself all around the place because of it.

"Ella-"

"Mamma, per favore, not now. I have to go. My flight is by 12:00pm."

Laura looked like she was about to say something else but Simon stepped in.

"Sparkle, come on. Let her go"

Laura's face fell as she sighed "Fine but as soon as you return, you come right back to your mamma, okay"

"Yes, Ma'am. I love you" she hugged her mom. Kissed her father's cheek and hugged Anna, whilst exchanging I love you's and Calling a cab. She was out of the house and on her way to the airport in fifteen minutes. She got to the airport on time, thank God, and checked in her suitcase. While the plane took off, she couldn't help but grow excited. She was going to a new place. Yes, it was for some scoop but she just loved traveling. Even though it was what she would call a conditional travel, being as her boss and the owner of Black and You magazine, Mr. Maxwell Black had said "Come up with something fresh in three months or you're fired", she still sat back and enjoyed the travel. Who knows, maybe she could come up with something good enough to get a vacation.... If ever her boss opened his eyes to the light and kindness of the lord, that is. She chuckled as she imagined him being blinded by heavenly light as he wept about the joy of salvation. Nope. He wasn't a pretty crier. She laughed and relaxed in her seat. "Forgive me, Lord"

For the duration of the flight, she tried to make a mental list of places she had already researched on, restaurants to try out, the hotel she was going to be staying at, how long it would take to come up with something. Not more than 3 months, definitely. Then, how long it would take her to swallow her disgust and call her boss. Again, not more than 3 months. After making sure her brain and work schedule were on the same wavelength, she decided to take a nap but ah, the boogie monster of her brain decided to shake his behind and fart up some ideas. Out of nowhere, she imagined Abraham Lincoln in black pantyhose and almost threw up in her mouth, therefore attracting the attention of one of the air hostesses. Definitely not a safe train of thought. Her mind went from talking potatoes to imagining one direction as a rock band.

She grimaced. No. The product of a pterodactyl mating with a moose? Woah.... Slightly uncomfortable but still... Cool. That would be one heck of a baby to push out though. Her thoughts were giving her a headache. She looked out the window and sighed.

It was gonna be a long flight.